Little leaguer's elbow, medial epicondyle injury, and osteochondritis dissecans

Elbow injuries in the young throwing athlete are common and encompass awide variety of pathologic problems from acute traumatic failure to repetitive overuses. The unique features of the still developing bony anatomy of the young throwers' elbow result in distinct injury patterns often involving the physis or apophysis. Medial, elbow injuries such as medial epicondylar apophysitis, medial epicondyle avulsion and ulnar collateral ligament tear result from excessive tensile forces. Lateral elbow injuries such as Palmer's disease and osteochondritis dissecans are the result of compressive forces. When evaluating the young thrower's elbow a specific daignosis should be made based on the mechanism of injury, clinical symptoms, physical examination, and appropriate imagind studies. The term Little Leaguer's Elbow is a wastebasket term that, in light of improved understanding of those conditions affecting the young thrower's elbow, should be avoided in favor of a sopecific diagnosis.